first pope to be called the great crossword clue

 The first pope to be called the Great was Pope Leo I, who reigned from 440 to 461. He was a powerful and influential figure in the early church, and he played a key role in the defense of Rome against Attila the Hun.

Here is a cryptic crossword clue for the first pope to be called the Great:

Roman leader who faced Attila (4): LEO

The wordplay clue in this clue is the word "Roman." Leo was a Roman pope, and he faced Attila the Hun, who was a barbarian leader. In this clue, the word "Roman" is being used as a homophone for the word "lion." A lion is a powerful and majestic animal, which is similar to the way that Pope Leo was viewed by his contemporaries.

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